TF and my blood test results

[newcastlemama]

As some of you know I have been recovering from nutrient defiencies for about 1.5 years through TF diet and supplements. I am suprisingly still low in D and iron.

My numbers--

Vitamin D
goal=55-60
mine=17
8/2006=I think it was about 9

She wants me on 4,000 IU a day. So I figure 2t HVCLO and 2,000i u of Carlson vitamin D softgels. She does not want me to take HVCLO because of "too much vitmamin A", but all the research from WAPF says that it is safe so I am going to disregard that advice. (Even though I am still slightly nervous about it ) I may also more agressively pursue fnding some pastured lard at this point.

iron (ferritin)
goal=100
mine=13
8/2006=6

I am going to take an extra iron supplement and keep giving in to the beef cravings. My mom and grandmother were always anemic too. My mother says she has a very hard time getting her numbers to rise and is not even allowed to give blood. I am suprised because I cook in cast iron and eat loads of beef, yet there are the numbers. I guess at least they went up.

hemocrit and homeglobin are in good range

The good news from this is that I have the potential to keep feeling even better as these numbers continue to (slowly) climb. If anyone has anymore tips or food suggestions on increasing the absorbsion of D or iron I am open to it. (But, I can't do dairy, eggs or gluten at this point).

Jen

[HerbanGirl]

Congratulations on slowly climbing numbers, even if they aren't at ideal levels yet. Just a thought - it sounds like your issue isn't iron intake, but iron absorption. I've read that taking (or eating) iron with Vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron. Have you heard of this?

[moonlight mom]

Originally Posted by HerbanGirl

Congratulations on slowly climbing numbers, even if they aren't at ideal levels yet. Just a thought - it sounds like your issue isn't iron intake, but iron absorption. I've read that taking (or eating) iron with Vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron. Have you heard of this?

Once again HerbanGirl is right - taking vitamin C with something high in iron significantly increases the absorption of iron.

Herbangirl - you need to start your nutritionist business!!

Lindsay

[HerbanGirl]

Originally Posted by Lindsay13

Once again HerbanGirl is right - taking vitamin C with something high in iron significantly increases the absorption of iron.

Herbangirl - you need to start your nutritionist business!!

Lindsay

Thanks for the boost, Lindsay!

[avendesora]

Another thing to be aware of...

Calcium deters iron absorption. If you are drinking/eating lots of dairy products, that's fine, but make sure it's at a different time of day than when you're taking your iron.

Aven

[AJP]

Do you usually eat greens with your beef? I wonder if the calcium and/or oxalic acid in greens can interfere with iron absorption, as well.

[Ruthla]

Originally Posted by avendesora

Another thing to be aware of...

Calcium deters iron absorption. If you are drinking/eating lots of dairy products, that's fine, but make sure it's at a different time of day than when you're taking your iron.

Aven

She's not having dairy products at all.

I personally think she's doing great- the numbers have doubled in a bit over a year- not at optimal levels yet, but moving in the right direction.

[425lisamarie]

WOw, you must be really happy to show some "official" progress!

[krankedyann]

Jen, remind me- aren't you GFCF from celiac? If so, that perfectly explains your numbers- celiac effects iron and D absorption from small intestine damage. How long have you been on the diet? That fact that it's going up says your gut is healing and you are absorbing more. So it's good news.

If not, just ignore me. LOL It's late for me and I'm tired.

[Leilalu]

I am constantly reminded why I love everyone here :

Way to go on your test results It's good to know when you are making progress.

[wagamama]

Thanks for sharing your results. I was surprised to read that even after taking CLO for a while, your numbers are still low. (but going up!). That has me thinking that I should have my levels checked. We can't assume that just because we are eating the right things that the nutrients are being absorbed.

[quietserena]

Hey right on! Numbers are going in the right direction. Are you also feeling better?

Regarding iron, I keep seeing that copper-iron connection so maybe that's something for you to look into as well. (Though, I'm pretty sure you knew...)

[newcastlemama]

Wow! Thanks for all the replies!

Originally Posted by krankedyann

Jen, remind me- aren't you GFCF from celiac? If so, that perfectly explains your numbers- celiac effects iron and D absorption from small intestine damage. How long have you been on the diet? That fact that it's going up says your gut is healing and you are absorbing more. So it's good news.

If not, just ignore me. LOL It's late for me and I'm tired.

They never tested me for celiac. I had a very high IgA glianden score and came back IgG to all gluten containing grains. I do think I have some damage though, if not from gluten, definately from other things. I have been off gluten since September 2006.

Do you usually eat greens with your beef? I wonder if the calcium and/or oxalic acid in greens can interfere with iron absorption, as well.

I eat beef with all different kinds of food..even for breakfast I also eat greens with low/no oxalates so I can absorb as many nutrients as possible.

Hey right on! Numbers are going in the right direction. Are you also feeling better?

Regarding iron, I keep seeing that copper-iron connection so maybe that's something for you to look into as well. (Though, I'm pretty sure you knew...)

I feel great compared to when I started TF and nutritional healing. I mean anything is an improvement from sleeping all day and feeling anxious/depressed/angry/sad. I was a total mess. Now I am stable, awake during the day, and generally in a good mood. The funny thing is that every few months I think "Wow. I feel so much better than just a few months ago!" I will think that I have really "made it", so to speak, and I am totally healed and then feel even better! So I am thinking I will just continue to improve gradually and keep feeling better as time goes on. That is the only reason I am excited about the test results. If I feel this good and I am still anemic then things are going to be great a year from now.

My copper numbers were good when they were tested before. I have pyroluria (where you need more zinc and B6) and with that condition you run more of a risk with too much copper.

Ruthla--Thanks for the encouragment...I did not see it as my number doubling! That is a really positive way of looking at it

HerbanGirl--I know about the vitamin c thing, but I may put more of an effort into getting more C with my beef. I wish I could do tomatoes because then I could make stews with C and iron.

Wagamama-I think it is wise to get tested. I was reading more about vitamin D on WAPF and it talked about how you burn through 3,000-4,000 iu a day and 4,000iu/day is what seems to be needed more optimal health.My practioner said she would have put me on even higher dose of it if I was not pregnant.

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...fications.html

Experiments show that even during the winter with a low vitamin D intake, humans will exhaust stores of vitamin D at a rate of 3000-4000 IU per day, an amount that many people require to maintain optimal levels of the vitamin in the blood. Extensive exposure to summer sun at mid latitudes naturally produces levels of vitamin D in the blood equivalent to what is attained by supplementing with a continued daily dose of 10,000 IU, suggesting humans are designed to tolerate such large amounts of vitamin D.(4)

http://www.westonaprice.org/basicnut...ndmiracle.html

According to Dr. Vieth, the minimal daily requirement of vitamin D should be in the range of 4,000 IU from all sources, rather than the 200-400 currently suggested, or ten times the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). Dr. Vieth's research perfectly matches Dr. Price's observations of sixty years ago!

That article also talks aboout how you need more of the other nutrients, like vitamin A, when taking that much D (Hence my decision to stay on the HVCLO and eat liver)


I am supposed to get retested in about 6 months so I will have another update then on how it all worked.

Jen

[Theloose]

My thought on the iron is absorption, as well. Did your practitioner check other nutrient levels as well?

And if you're curious, researchers figured out an algorithm to guess how much iron you're absorbing. I think it's interesting to see the relative effects of things like vit C, phytate and eggs

[moonlight mom]

Have you ever thought about Nettle infusions? I have been reading more about Susan Weed and she recommends drinking nourishing infusions every day. Nettles are really high in iron and vitamin D.

[Gale Force]

Hi Jen. Thank goodness you have a team.

Originally Posted by Lindsay13

Have you ever thought about Nettle infusions? I have been reading more about Susan Weed and she recommends drinking nourishing infusions every day. Nettles are really high in iron and vitamin D.

I have been a bit low in iron and have gotten some energy with a fermented nettle drink. I am actually sending my husband to gather some today. I hope they haven't frozen. You can buy them dry at places that sell bulk herbs.

[Panserbjorne]

You can try an infusion of rose hips or hibiscus with nettles. IT's great not only for vitamin C and iron, but for allergies as well. I make my infusions, refrigerate and use them as a base for smoothies. My kids actually drink them straight though. I started making them years ago and have no issues with anemia as long as I'm drinking them (my kids tend to deplete me!)

KrankedyAnn is right though...if you still have damage to your intestines you will have a much more difficult time absorbing and utilizing specific nutrients.

[julie128]

Do you cook in iron cookware, frying pans, stockpots and the like? That's an easy way to get more iron. Nettle and yellowdock tea might help as well.

[twilight girl]

I thought iron from animal sources was highly bioavailable. It's the iron from vegetable sources that is not very bioavailable, so you need the Vit. C to metabolize the iron. Like spinach, for example, spinach salad with mandarin orange slices.

As for increasing Vit. D, aren't you supposed to get sun on your arms/face for 10-15 minutes a day for Vit. D. deficiency?

[newcastlemama]

--The infusions and fermented nettles sounds like a good idea. That way I can get in probiotics and iron in one drink. I am getting kind of bored of my water kefir right now anyway. I am trying to get the grape juice flavor out of my grains right now and then try it out.

--I do use cast iron for cooking

--About vitamin D from sun--it is not enough for me to get optimal levels especially since I am so deficient (and since I live in Northern California and don't lay naked outside midday)

I was also thinking that my numbers may not have risen that much because my body was in repair and using up the nutrients much faster than normal. Maybe now that I am healthier my body will respond more quickly to the supplementation. Healing my gut should be help things too.

Thanks for all the suggestions,
Jen